Orchard debuts Dolly Parton-themed corn maze

WOODSTOCK, Ill. — A Woodstock-area orchard has a new Dolly Parton-themed corn maze, which has taken on new significance in light of the icon’s death.

All Seasons Orchard, located at 14510 Route 176, had just announced the maze in honor of the country singer and the Imagination Library on social media when Parton’s death on Aug. 25 was revealed, said Kamille Combs, the orchard’s marketing director.

She said orchard operators never could have predicted the timing and Parton’s death was “very shocking.”

Combs said it has hit the nation and world very hard.

“Everyone loved Dolly,” she said.

But the Parton maze had been in the works for some time. All Seasons worked with a Utah-based maze design company that had been collaborating with Parton’s team for three years for the maze, Combs said.

The maze shows Parton’s face with flowing hair and “An American Treasure” written below.

All Seasons is one of 20 corn mazes in the United States and Canada with a Dolly-themed tribute maze, the only one in Illinois. The maze design was finalized in the spring and cut over the summer.

But this year the maze will have interactive games, including trivia questions about Parton and the Imagination Library that will help people navigate the maze. A life-sized photo op is in the works, as is storytelling time.

There will also be story time with one of Parton’s favorite books, “Coat of Many Colors,” Combs said.

All Seasons Orchard closes for the season on Nov. 1.

Combs said the orchard will make a donation to the Imagination Library at the end of the season and included a link on its website if anyone would like to donate.

Parton started the Imagination Library, which sends free books monthly to children from birth to age 5.

Combs said she had connected with the Illinois Imagination Library and said the orchard would love to make the maze extra special.